Container comprising a turn-lock fastener

ABSTRACT

The invention to a container, especially a beverage container. The lid wall ( 2 ) is provided with a specified rupture line ( 6 ) which, when torn open, frees an opening ( 9 ) provided for drinking and pouring. A lid turn-lock fastener ( 10 ) comprises a wall ( 13 ), which spans the lid wall ( 2 ), and comprises means for tearing open the opening ( 9 ) provided for drinking and pouring. The lid turn-lock fastener is supported on the can when it is turned in order to tear open the opening ( 9 ) provided for drinking and pouring. The opening ( 9 ) provided for drinking and pouring extends between the rotational axis ( 4 ) and the circular periphery of the lid wall ( 2 ) and, in a radial direction, measures at least half of the radius length. The wall ( 13 ) of the lid turn-lock fastener ( 10 ) comprises an opening ( 15 ) which is left free, which, to a large extent, has the shape and size of the opening ( 9 ) provided for pouring, and which, by turning the lid turn-lock fastener ( 10 ), can be placed into a position in which it is located directly above said opening ( 9 ). The means used for tearing open comprise a projection ( 16 ) placed on the lid turn-lock fastener and comprise an inclined surface ( 5   a ) provided on the lid wall ( 2 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a container for accommodatingfree-flowing products, in particular in the form of a beverage can whichis provided with a predetermined breaking line which, once broken open,produces a drinking or pouring opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Beverage cans usually have a horseshoe-shaped predeterminedbreaking line which bounds a wall region on which a ring-pull tab isfastened. If such a beverage can has been opened by virtue of the tabbeing actuated, it is no longer possible to close it effectively, which,in the case of carbonated drinks, results in the can contents having tobe consumed rapidly or the drink otherwise going flat.

[0003] In order to eliminate this shortcoming, it is already known (fromDE 196 13 256 A1) to provide a lid-like closure element which hasengagement elements which interact in the manner of the bayonet closurewith mating engagement elements on a cylindrical wall of the can, theso-called core wall, in order thus for a drinking or pouring openingmade in the can to be closed in an airtight manner. In order to producethis pouring opening, the closure element has arcuate pressure-exertingelements which engage in a canal of the lid wall of the can and, whenthe closure element is rotated, slide onto an obliquely upwardly slopingpressure-exerting surface of the canal in order thus to break open thepredetermined breaking line which extends around the edge of the lidwall of the can. The disadvantage with this configuration of thebeverage can-is the fact that the shape of the outline differs from thatof the conventional beverage cans, with the result that it is notpossible to stack these beverage cans with conventional beverage cans.During use, moreover, the closure element has to be removed from thebeverage can in order to free the pouring opening.

[0004] A container as known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,432 is providedwith a flat lid wall having a depression with a sloping surface whereina tongue extends downwardly from an additional rotary lid closure. Thecontainer lid wall comprises a predetermined breaking line whichencloses a circular section and a narrow arcuate section, thepredetermined breaking line being interrupted in the circular section ata position which is opposite to the narrow arcuate section. When theadditional rotary lid having the tongue on it is rotated, the tongueinitially enters into the narrow arcuate section and then into thecircular section and breaks the breaking line so as to pivote the wallflap so formed into the interior of the container. The wall flap isthereby bent at a position which is arranged between the ends of thepredetermined breaking line. There is the danger that the lid wall makesa bulging or swell at this position so that no flat engagement existswith the wall of the rotatable lid and no good sealing can be expected.

[0005] A tin having a pair-of cap-shaped portions, each of which beingsurrounded by a predetermined breaking line can be opened with the helpof an additional cover to be placed on the tin and having rising edgesfor opening the cap-shaped portions (see ˜EP-A-0,340,835). Theadditional cover also comprises a pair of cylindrical parts which may beplugged into the openings of the container lid when the same have beenopened by breaking the circular breaking lines in the container lid. Itis doubtful whether or not such an opening can be sealingly closed insuch a manner.

[0006] A beverage container is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,427 whichhas drinking and pouring openings formed by slots parallel to oneanother, and a rotatable cover for forming the slots into the containerlid and for covering same. Sealing of the beverage container which hasbeen opened is not possible by this cover.

[0007] A further beverage container is known from U.S. Pat. No.5,692,633 which has a rotary lid closure and a fixed container lidincluding a circular raised region surrounded by a predeterminedbreaking line. The rotary lid closure comprises an opening correspondingto the outline of the breaking line and a raised portion or embosshaving a sloping surface which narrowly encompasses the raised region ofthe container lid. When rotating the rotary lid closure, the raisedregion of the container lid is sheared off along the predeterminedbreaking line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A object of the present invention is to provide a container withrotary closure which can be configured such that it can be stacked withconventional containers of the same type.

[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a container withrotary closure which is also suitable for sealing carbonated beverage.

[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide a container withrotary closure in the case of which the drinking or pouring opening canbe opened and closed simple by virtue of the rotary closure beingrotated (without being removed).

[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide a container withrotary closure in the case of which, on account os its relative size, asingle pouring opening is sufficient to serve as a drinking opening.

[0012] The invention provides a rotary lid closure which is fittedrotatably on the container. The rotary lid closure has a protrusion bymeans of which a pouring opening in the lid wall of the container can beopened by virtue of the rotary lid closure being rotated. The rotary lidclosure also has a cut-out opening which can be made to coincide withthe pouring opening in the lid wall of the container in order forcontents to be removed from the container. The cut-out opening in therotary lid closure may also be rotated to a neutral location, whereuponwall parts of the rotary lid closure cover and close the pouring openingin the lid wall. The container and the rotary lid closure are providedwith supporting means, with the result that the extent of support of thewall of the rotary lid closure on the edge of the pouring opening in thelid wall is sufficient to seal even carbonated beverage.

[0013] In detail, the rotary lid closure is positioned on the can as acap and retained thereon by means of clips which, in the case ofcommercially available metal cans, engage behind the edge seam. Threeclips are sufficient, and these grip firmly, by way of theirdepressions, on the edge seam and retain the rotary closure withoutpreventing the latter from rotating. The cap form of the rotary closureprovides sufficiently large grip surface areas for the hand, with theresult that the rotary closure can be conveniently grasped and rotated,a long lever length being formed. In order to open the pouring opening,i.e. that region of the lid wall which is bounded by notched weakeninglines, a protrusion is provided on the rotary closure, and thisprotrusion can be pressed into the bounded region by virtue of therotary closure being actuated, with the result that the lid breaks alonga short section of the weakening lines. Further rotation of the rotaryclosure allows the protrusion to be displaced over the surface of thebounded region, with the result that the lid wall is increasingly bentdownward in this bounded region and the crack propagates along thenotched weakening lines until the pouring opening has been completed. Inthe preferred embodiment of the invention, the cut-out opening in therotary lid closure here overlaps with the pouring opening in the lidwall of the container. The container is closed by virtue of the rotarylid closure being rotated back.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous that it is possible to usecommercially available cans, the only difference being that, instead offitting the ring pull tab, the latter is replaced by the rotary closure.It is further advantageous that the rotary closure seals well in itsclosed position, with the result that it is even possible for carbonatedbeverage to be kept under a certain pressure in the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] The invention will be described with reference to the drawing, inwhich:

[0016]FIG. 1 shows, in an exploded view, a section through the top partof a can with rotary closure,

[0017]FIG. 2 shows the view of the lid wall of the can, on a largerscale than FIG. 1,

[0018]FIG. 3 shows a section along line III-III from FIG. 2,

[0019]FIG. 4 shows the view of a rotary closure,

[0020]FIG. 5 shows schematic illustrations of the operation of openingthe can,

[0021]FIG. 6 shows a clip formation,

[0022]FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail, in section,

[0023]FIG. 8 shows a section through the top part of a second embodimentof the can with rotary closure,

[0024]FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the can according to FIG. 8,

[0025]FIG. 10 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 8,

[0026] FIGS. 11 to 13 show the operations of opening and closing thecan, and

[0027] FIGS. 14 to 16 show the operations of opening and closing avariant of the can.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0028]FIG. 1 shows the top end of a can, i.e. a rotationally symmetricalwall region 1, e.g. made of tin plate, which is closed by a lid wall 2,e.g. made of aluminum, an edge seam 3 being formed. The lid wall 2 hasan encircling groove 8 and a bounded region 5, which is sunken to someextent in relation to the plane of the lid wall 2 and has been preparedvia notched weakening lines 6, as predetermined breaking lines (FIG. 2),for a partial breaking-open action. Two latching locations in the formof indents 7 a, 7 b are also provided on the lid wall 2.

[0029] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the weakening grooves 6 have arcuatesections 6 a, 6 b, 6 c and 6 d. The arcuate sections 6 a and 6 b runmore or less along radial lines, which are angled at just below 90° inrelation to one another. The section 6 b is somewhat longer than thesection 6 a. The sections 6 c and 6 d run approximately concentricallywith the center axis 4, the concentricity not quite being achieved onaccount of running toward the longer section 6 b.

[0030]FIG. 1 also illustrates a rotary lid closure 10, as a section I-Ifrom FIG. 4, which consists of metal or plastic and has an encirclingannular wall 11 with funnel-shaped widening 12 and a rotary sliding wall13. The rotary sliding wall 13 has a cut-out opening 15 which is of moreor less the same shape as the bounded region 5 of the lid wall 2. Partsof the wall 13 in the region of the opening 15 are bent over in aloop-like manner in order to form a bead-like protrusion 16, as can bestbe seen from FIG. 5. A bead 17 is also provided, as a protrusion, in thewall 13 and engages in one indent 7 a, 7 b or the other in order todetermine a defined open position and closed position for the can as awhole.

[0031] The rotary closure 10 is fitted onto the can 1 in the manner of alid, and it engages behind the edge seam 3 by way of a number of clips20, e.g. three resilient depressions (FIG. 6). In addition, a protrudingannular corrugation 21 engages in the groove 8 in order for the rotarysliding wall 13 to be guided resiliently, and thus in a close-fittingmanner, on the side wall 2 when the rotary closure is rotated. Therotary closure 10, in addition, is made particularly easy to grip by theannular wall 11 being designed with corrugation or knurling.

[0032] In order to achieve a pressure-tight closure, it is expedient torubber-coat the front side 16 a of the bead-like protrusion 16 and theunderside of the wall 13, at 13 a, or to provide the same with someother sealing coating.

[0033] It is further expedient to provide a bead-like sealingapplication around the bounded region 5, outside the predeterminedbreaking line 6, with the result that the contact pressure of the rotaryclosure 10 is greatest around the bounded region 5.

[0034] In the starting position of the can, or in the position in whichthe latter is supplied, the bead-like protrusion 16 is located withinthe bounded region 5, overlapping the edge region 6 a. In this startingposition, the protrusion 17 latches into the indent 7 a and thus fixesthis starting position. By using one's thumb to press on the bead-likeprotrusion 16, the notched weakening lines 6 can be made to break in theregion 6 a, as is illustrated at the top left of FIG. 5. The edge 11, 12of the rotary closure 10 is then grasped and rotated in thecounterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 4. The bead 16 then bendsthe bounded region 5 increasingly downward in the form of a lug 5 a, asis outlined at the top right and bottom left of the illustration of FIG.5. This forms the drinking or pouring opening 9, which takes upapproximately the bounded region 5. This opening 9 can be freed byvirtue of the rotary closure 10 being rotated back, as is illustrated atthe bottom right of FIG. 5. In this position, the opening 9 and thecut-out opening 15 of the rotary closure 10 overlap, which allowsmaximum removal of the contents of the containers. Counterclockwiserotation can partially or wholly eliminate the overlapping positionformed, with the result that the effective outlet opening is more orless pronounced or closed, the latter being the case when the bead 17engages in the indent 7 b.

[0035] In this closed position, the sealing coating 16 a of the bead 16comes into contact with the edge 2 a of the opening 9, as is illustratedat the bottom left of FIG. 5, and the coating 13 a seals against thewall 2.

[0036]FIG. 7 shows the interaction of the bead 16 with the boundedregion 5 without the aid of the thumb. The bounded region has threezones 5 a, 5 c and 5 d with sloping surfaces as well as plateau zone 5b. If the rotary closure lid is rotated out of the starting position,the bead 16 slides along the sloping surface 5 a in the direction of theplateau surface 5 b as a result of which the pressure on the lid 2increases and the weakening line breaks in the boundary region between 6c and 6 a. This tear propagates via the region 6 a into the region 6 dand passes, via the region 6 b, into the region 6 c, in which theweakening line is interrupted in order that the separated-off part 5remains attached to the lid 2 and does not fall into the interior of thecontainer. The steeper the sloping surface of the zone 5 a, the greateris the initial force which needs to be applied in order to cause theweakening line to break. The angle of the sloping surface is between 20and 40°.

[0037] The rotary closure lid 10 is preferably dimensioned such that thebase of an adjacent can fits into the top edge opening of the lid 10,with the result that it is possible for a number of cans to be stackedone above the other with mutual engagement.

[0038] FIGS. 8 to 13 show a second embodiment of the can with rotaryclosure. Parts which correspond to those of the first embodiment areprovided with the same designations, and reference is made to theappropriate description of the first embodiment.

[0039] The notched weakening line 6 has a kidney-shaped outline with aconvexity 6 e, at which location the notched weakening line isinterrupted. The bounded region 5 of the lid wall 2 is broken away inorder to form the drinking opening 9, but, in order to be captive,remains attached to the lid wall in the region 5 e. The bounded region 5is broken out in a similar manner to the first embodiment, although thesloping surface 5 a is somewhat narrower and longer than the slopingsurface of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the protrusion 16 of therotary lid closure 10 is shorter in the radial direction and onlyextends downward from the rotary sliding wall 13, i.e. it is designed asan indent or bead which assumes a certain spacing S1 (FIG. 13) from thecut-out opening 15, which is provided in the rotary sliding wall 13 andhas a kidney-shaped or bean-shaped outline. The spacing between theindent or bead 16 and the axis of rotation 4 is designated S2. Thedepression of the kidney shape is at a certain spacing S4 from the axisof rotation 4 of the rotary lid closure 10 and at a spacing S3 from theedge of the lid wall 2. A sealing layer or a sealing bead is applied upto this spacing strip around the zone 5, which will be discussed in moredetail in conjunction with FIGS. 14 to 16.

[0040] With the system of the invention, the closed half of the rotarysliding wall 13 overlaps the opening or the region 5, which could thustake up up to half of the surface area of the rotary sliding wall 13.Since it is desirable for the drinking opening 9 to have rounded edges,and since the broken-out section of the wall is to remain attached atthe web 5 e, the maximum size of the drinking opening 9 iscorrespondingly smaller. Since the drinking opening 9 is to be sealed,there is a need for a sealing surface around the opening. The spacingsS1, S3 and S4 are thus required. In the embodiment described, theopenings 9 and 15 have virtually achieved their maximum size forpractical purposes. It would only still be possible to increase the sizeof the openings 9 and 15 to some extent by increasing the spacing S2between the protrusion 16 and the axis of rotation 4, as a result ofwhich the outlines of the openings 9 and 15 may be of somewhat moreslot-like configuration. The radial extent of the opening 9 or 15 isr−(S3+S4), where r is the radius of the rotary sliding wall. This radialextent should be at least r/2, in order to achieve a sufficiently largedrinking opening in the case of commercially available beverage cans of65 mm in diameter. The protrusion 16 should extend approximatelytangentially to the predetermined breaking line 6 and should pass overthe region 5 approximately in its center. This means that the directionin which the protrusion 16 extends is at an angle of from approximately30° to 60° to the radial line, in respect of the conditions from FIGS. 8to 13. For the spacing S2, a range of from 0.3 to 0.6 r is preferred.

[0041] The rotary lid closure 10 is clipped onto the top end of the canin the same way as in the case of the first embodiment. However, theencircling annular wall 11 terminates with a flanged border 11 a, as isillustrated in FIG. 10. As can be seen from FIG. 9, the annular wall 11may be of corrugated form, in order for it to be possible for the rotarylid closure 10 to be rotated with greater force.

[0042] The handling of the rotary lid closure is outlined in FIGS. 11 to13. FIG. 11 shows the position of the rotary lid closure 10 once it hasbeen fitted in the position in which it is sold. If the customer wishesto open the can, he/she rotates the rotary lid closure 10 to the left,as is indicated by the arrow PI. The protrusion 16 moves over thesloping zone 5 a, the increasing pressure ensuring that the notched line6 breaks. During this rotation P1, the opening 15 passes into thebounded region 5 and, finally, overlaps the latter to the full extent,as is illustrated in FIG. 12. During this rotation in accordance withthe arrow P1, the wall region 5 pivots into the interior of the can 1,but remains attached to the lid wall 2, as is illustrated at 5 e. Thedrinking opening 9 is open to the maximum extent in the position of FIG.12.

[0043] The rotary closure can be closed again by virtue of the part 10being rotated to the right in accordance with the arrow P2. The positionof the rotary lid closure according to FIG. 13 is then reached. In thiscase, the protrusion 16 comes into abutment against the edge of the openregion 5. The angle position of the rotary closure 10 is thus somewhatdifferent from the angle position in the starting position of FIG. 11.This means that a sickle-shaped region 2 b is visible from the lid wall2, which region was still concealed in the position of FIG. 11. Thissickle-shaped region 2 b may be marked in order to indicate to theexpert that the can has been opened or that an attempt has been made toopen it.

[0044] The tamper indicating feature) may also be realized in some othermanner, for example by means of a seal which is adhesively bonded to thelid wall 2 and the rotary sliding wall 13 in the region of the opening15. When the rotary lid closure 10 is rotated, this seal has to bedestroyed, which indicates the unauthorized usage of the can.

[0045] The safety feature may also be provided in the region of the edge11 a of the annular wall 11, since it is also the case there thatrotation of the closure 10 involves displacement relative to the can 1.

[0046] It may be expedient for containers to have a pouring opening witha round cross section, for example because it is desired to fit in apouring tap or the like there. The variant according to FIGS. 14 to 16shows such a circular access opening 15. The predetermined breakinglines 6 are approximately horseshoe-shaped and enclose a correspondinglyconfigured region 5, around which a bead-like sealing region 5 fextends. If the closure 10 is rotated to the left in accordance witharrow P1, the protrusion 16 moves over the sloping surface 5 a andpresses the wall region 5 downward, with the result that thepredetermined breaking line 6 tears, with the exception of the region 5e, which remains attached. The part 10 contains a protrusion 17 whichlatches into a corresponding indent of the lid wall 2, as is similarlyillustrated at 7 a in FIG. 2. In this angle position of the rotary lidclosure 10, the opening 15 overlaps the now open region 5 to the maximumextent, as is illustrated in FIG. 15. The rotary sliding wall 13 buttswith pressing action against the sealing region 5 f. It should bepointed out that the rotary sliding wall 13 is provided with resilientcompliance, in particular in the region of the annular groove 21, sothat the sealing abutment of the rotary sliding wall 13 against thesealing region 5 f still functions even when the lid wall 2, as a resultof the internal pressure loss when the can is opened, yields back tosome extent, i.e. loses its original relatively large degree ofcurvature.

[0047]FIG. 15 shows the open position of the container, which can betransferred into the closed position of FIG. 16 by virtue of rotation tothe right in accordance with arrow P2. From this position, the containercan be opened repeatedly by virtue of the rotary lid closure 10 beingrotated to the left in accordance with arrow P3.

[0048] The can 1 may be further developed as a music box, in which amicrochip with micro power source and micro-loudspeaker is fitted on thelid or lid roof closure, the microchip taking effect when the can isopened, or when the rotary lid closure is rotated, and playing a melody,an advertisement or the like.

[0049] The novel rotary closure can be used not just for cans but alsofor other forms of containers or vessels which have a rotationallysymmetrical wall with a lid wall which has to be torn open in order toform a pouring opening.

[0050] The novel rotary closure is very user-friendly. The cap-likedesign of the rotary closure allows convenient grasping without any riskof injury (i.e. without fingernails being broken or cuts being sustainedon the ring pull, as in the case of prior-art containers). Moreover, therotary closure provides a favorable lever action since the grip location11 is located further outward relative to the actuating location 6/16.On account of the straightforward design, the additional costs of therotary lid closure are only slightly higher than the hithertoconventional containers with ring pull tab, and these additional costsare offset by the advantages which can be achieved. The can can beopened and closed repeatedly and is leakproof and seals against the lossof carbonated beverage. With the can closed, there is no risk ofinsects, which could have fallen into the open containers, beingswallowed (exclusion of warranty claims).

1. A container comprising: a rotationally symmetrical wall region (1); alid wall (2), which has a circular circumference of a given radiuslength (r) and is fixed along the circumference of the rotationallysymmetrical wall region (1); a bounded region (5) of the lid wall (2),said bounded region extending between the axis of rotation (4) and thecircular circumference of the lid wall (2) and being enclosed by apredetermined breaking line (6) which, once broken open, releases asingle drinking and pouring opening (9); a depression with slopingsurface (5 a), which is formed by wall parts of the lid wall (2) withinthe predetermined breaking line (6); a rotary lid closure (10), whichhas a wall (13), which spans the lid wall (2), an opening cut out (15)therein and a protrusion (16) for sliding on the sloping surface inorder to break open the drinking and pouring opening (9); means (3, 20)for supporting the rotary lid closure (10) when the latter is rotatedabout an axis of rotation (4) in order for the drinking and pouringopening (9) to be broken open, characterized by the following features:the depression with sloping surface (5 a) of the lid wall (2) isarranged at a location of the bounded region (5) which is overlapped bythe cut-out opening (15) when the rotary lid closure (10) has beenrotated in order to release the drinking and pouring opening (9); theprotrusion (16) is formed from wall parts of the rotary lid closure(10); the wall (13) of the rotary lid closure (10) butts withprestressing against the top side of the lid wall (2) in order to sealthe drinking and pouring opening (9) once the latter has been brokenopen and the rotary lid closure (10) has been rotated back.
 2. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spacing (S4)between the protrusion (16) and the axis of rotation (4) is in the rangeof from 0.3 to 0.6 r radius length of the lid wall (2), and in that theradial dimension of the drinking and pouring opening (9) is at leasthalf the radius length (r/2).
 3. The container as claimed in claim 1 or2, characterized in that the rotationally symmetrical wall region (1) isconnected to the lid wall (2) via an edge seam (3) and the rotary lidclosure (10) is designed in the form of a cap for engaging round theedge seam (3), so as to form said supporting means (3, 20) at leastpartially, and in that the rotary lid closure (10) has a grip region(11) which has a lever length which relative to the axis of rotation (4)which is greater than the spacing between the protrusion (16) and theaxis of rotation (4).
 4. The container as claimed in claim 3,characterized in that a number of clips (20) are provided for engaginground the edge seam (3).
 5. The container as claimed in claim 3 or 4,characterized in that the grip region (11) of the rotary lid closure(10) is corrugated.
 6. The container as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4,characterized in that interacting latching means (7, 17) are provided onthe lid wall (2) and the rotary lid closure (10) in order to arrest therotary lid closure in the fully open position or in the fully closedposition.
 7. The container as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6,characterized in that the surround of the bounded region (5) of the lidwall is provided with a sealing application (5 f) or a coating.
 8. Thecontainer as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that thebounded region (5) has a kidney-shaped outline.
 9. The container asclaimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the predeterminedbreaking line (6) is not fully closed, with the result that, duringopening, some wall material (5 e) of the bounded region (5) remainsattached to the lid wall (2) in captive fashion in the form of a lug.10. The container as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized inthat the rotary lid closure (10) has an annular corrugation (21) inorder to press the rotary sliding wall (13) resiliently onto the lidwall (2).